The purpose of this thesis is to present a contemporary examination of Russia_ï¿½_s gay pride movement. In particular, this study will focus on why the tactics currently used by Russia_ï¿½_s gay activists are preventing gay pride campaigns from reaching their goal of greater social and legal equalities for sexual minorities. An evaluation of activist_ï¿½_s actions and ideologies will ... read morehelp to provide answers to this question. The study also gauges the desire of LGBT Russians to have a successful gay pride movement, and what the definition of _ï¿½ï¿½success_ï¿½_ is in the Russian context. This definition is elucidated by a discussion of the applicability of Western examples of gay pride to the Russian case.
\
The scope of the study spans the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 to the spring of 2012. The research presented is based on publications from numerous periodicals, documentary films, and previously published scholarly texts that are related to the subjects of gay pride and Russian LGBT culture.
\
The principle conclusion of this study asserts that the campaign strategies of Russian gay pride activists are negatively impacting the movement_ï¿½_s own attempts to advance the rights of sexual minorities. Many Russians, both within and outside of Russia_ï¿½_s LGBT community, oppose the country_ï¿½_s gay activist movement ideologically, methodologically, or altogether. Evidence that a portion of the LGBT community does not stand behind the goals of their country_ï¿½_s gay pride movement reveals a disconnect between the activist_ï¿½_s objectives and the desires of those it claims to represent. This misinterpretation is in part explained by the encouragement of Western involvement by leaders of the Russian movement despite many Russians_ï¿½_ disillusionment with Western-style gay pride movements.
read less